SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The jump from the maiden ranks to graded stakes company can be daunting, and one that trainers are often leery to make. In the case of the juvenile filly Sense of Style, trainer Patrick Biancone is relishing the chance to run her in Friday's Grade 2, $250,000 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Richard Mandella may need his top horse, Pleasantly Perfect, to provide the stable with its first win of the Del Mar meeting this weekend.
Through Wednesday, Mandella was winless with 13 starters, which included five seconds and two third-place finishes. One of the runner-up finishes came from Pleasantly Perfect in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on Aug. 1.
"I'm just hoping I have a win," Mandella joked Wednesday.
DEL MAR, Calif. - King of Happiness has been fourth in two Grade 1 turf stakes this year - the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile at Hollywood Park on May 31 and the Eddie Read Handicap here on July 25. In both cases, he rallied from the back of the field to miss by a little more than two lengths.
Friday, King of Happiness can score his first win since an allowance race in May in the $75,000 Harry Brubaker Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar. A win could lead to a start in the Grade 1 Atto Mile at Woodbine on Sept. 19.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When he runs a horse in a stakes in New York, trainer Bob Baffert usually leaves the saddling responsibilities to his New York assistant, Tonja Terranova. But on Saturday, Baffert will make the trip from California to saddle Yearly Report in the Grade 1, $750,000 Alabama. Baffert won the 1999 Alabama with Silverbulletday, who was crowned champion 3-year-old filly at the end of the year.
"Bob's really excited about [Yearly Report]; it's his big filly," Terranova said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Three years ago, Carl Lizza decided to step out of the New York-bred arena and purchased several well-bred yearlings at auction with the intent of upgrading his racing stable.
In February 2002, those plans went awry when a barn fire at an Ocala, Fla., farm killed 17 of those horses. Rather than fret, Lizza opted to carry on. This year, despite dealing with a health problem that resulted in the amputation of his left leg, Lizza has decided once again to upgrade his racing stable.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Angel Cordero Jr. has life by the neck. Heck, he always did. Charisma and confidence are simply part of the package. He rode 7,057 winners through talent and tenacity. He knows everybody, and if he doesn't he shouts out a nickname that's somewhere close. He can crack a joke quicker than most people can crack a smile. He breezes stakes horses for the best trainers - for fun. He books mounts for the leading jockey at the Saratoga meet, John Velazquez, earning from his percentage as an agent more than most jockeys make from their full cuts.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - As of Wednesday, Roaring Fever was on the fence for Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap at Monmouth Park, and Zoffinger was closer to joining the field.
The Iselin lineup remained in flux, as trainers decided whether they wanted to challenge Ghost-zapper in the 1 1/8-mile race.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Sweet Creek, ridden by Rickey Walcott, drops in against $17,500 claimers in a bid for her fourth victory of the year Friday at Northlands Park.
Sweet Creek was claimed by Dany Dion from a sixth-place finish at the $22,000 level. Sweet Creek finished third for $22,000 in her first start for her new barn. In three starts before the claim, she had a win and two seconds, all at the $22,000 level. Sweet Creek drew post 2 in the field of seven going a mile.
Also dropping from the $22,000 level are Won Forceful Lady, Pinga, and Jessie Guest.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - This side of the Breeders' Cup, the European flavor just does not seem to get any stronger in American racing than in the International Festival of Racing that Arlington Park hosted last weekend.
And there is a reason for that: Arlington pulls out all stops to make it that way.
"It takes a lot of hard work by a lot of people," said Frank Gabriel Jr., executive vice president of racing at Arlington. "It's hard to maintain the standard we've set for ourselves, but we met it again this year."
Patriot's Pass is bred to be a good one as a half-brother to Affluent, and trainer Ron McAnally may give him a chance to prove it in next month's Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. The Super Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race, will be held on Sept. 25.
"It's a possibility we'll bring Patriot's Pass," said McAnally, who trains the colt for Janis Whitman.
